| Crater Lake National Park | |
Things to Do:
Crater Lake National Park offers opportunities for a variety of activities depending on your personal interests. To make the most of your visit, stop at one of the park visitor centers first. The Steel Information Center is open year-round. It offers information, backcountry permits, exhibits, map and publication sales, and first aid. The Rim Village Visitor Center, open June-September, provides information and map and publication sales.
Rim Drive
OR 62 and the south access road lead to a year-round view of the lake, but the
north entrance road and Rim Drive are closed from mid-October through late June.
During that time vehicle access is available only from OR 62 to Rim Village. Rim Drive is a 33-mile road that circles the caldera
rim, with pullouts along the way providing scenic lake views.
Hiking
and Other Activities
Crater Lake National Park contains more than 90 miles of hiking
trails and many of these trails may be hiked easily in a single day. Trails
ascending Garfield Peak (1.7 miles), The Watchman (0.7 miles), and Mount Scott (2.5
miles) offer spectacular views, and Cleetwood Trail (1.1 miles) provides the
only access to the lake. Thirty-three miles of the Pacific
Crest Trail pass through Crater Lake National Park, offering through-hikers
magnificent views of the lake.
Each year, increasing numbers of cyclists come to Crater Lake National Park to ride around the lake on the 33-mile Rim Drive. The route is physically demanding. Other park activities include scuba diving, fishing, and cross-country skiing.
Park
Programs
Summer campfire programs are presented at the Mazama
Campground amphitheater. Ranger-led hikes and special activities for children
are also available. The park also offers ranger-led bus tours
on a staff-available basis. Tour groups may arrange to meet a ranger, who will
ride along as the bus circles Crater Lake on the 33-mile Rim Drive. From late
June to mid-September, narrated boat tours are also offered that circle the inside of
the caldera with a stop at Wizard Island and a close-up look at Phantom
Ship.
